door wont unlock? HOW TO FIX IT

**gerald1** · 23-07-2006, 08:59 PM

It used to work fine. then a couple of weeks ago it stopped working. Ive been climbing in and out of my window for a couple of weeks and im sick of it. Also climbing across from passenger seat isn't fun. Its in an ae92 and the locks and everything is stock. nothing fancy no alarm etc... anyone had any problems with locks just not unlocking. key will go in but it wont turn. it has worked i think twice in the last 2 weeks.

anyone got any ideas before i rip into the door and break something?

gez

**Cuzzo** · 23-07-2006, 09:49 PM

Quick Fix. Swap the passenger door lock with the drivers. And swap around the back oif it and the little plastic clip.
While your there check and make sure nothing is out of shape compared to the passenger wise apart from being mirrored. And also check the same key in the boot and the passenger side eliminate that the key is the prblem.
Or do it properly and replace the locks.

**slide86** · 23-07-2006, 09:55 PM

it may not be the lock thats the problem.

the door latch may have become jammed up with crud and the mechanism could be bung.can you get the door trim off with the door closed?

otherwise wind down the window, you will be able to see the mechanism from the top. spray some crc in there and try to pop it open using a long screwdriver.

**gerald1** · 29-07-2006, 02:12 PM

Ok, guys, just so if someone searches on these forums with a similar problem and they find this thread ill post how i fixed it:

1. remove arm wrest from door (the top most part of the trim). This can be done with a flathead screwdriver and just kind of prying it out, there might be some screws to undo first, check with user manual first. Then wind down the window.

2. get a torch or do next steps in day light

3. get a bottle of oil and a skewer (or other long thing round stick type of thing)stick skewer into bottle so when you squeeze the bottle oil will run down the skewer and flow/drip off the end of skewer.

4. angle skewer+bottle thing into the nice large gap in the top of the door and squirt all the mechanical looking stuff full of oil. This is also a good way of making ur window easier to wind up/down. Anyway the lock stuff is all directly under the thing you lift up when in the car and just squirt it all with oil.

5. wait 10 minutes for oil to work its magic, then turn lock with key and it should open. redo this every week or so. if problem persists see a mechanic - dont listen to me cos i know nothing about cars. i just have a high rep count.

catchyas
Gerald

**slide86** · 29-07-2006, 02:33 PM

so lubricating it fixed it then. good to hear

**Dimmy** · 30-07-2006, 12:28 AM

i'd change the lock for a newer one or just give it a thorough clean so it doesnt bother you again

**gerald1** · 30-07-2006, 12:54 AM

but i am no mechanic, i wanted to do this but i couldn't get all the door trim off and subsequently couldn't get the lock stuff out. oh well

I might end up doing this, if anyone has any tips on how to then please post them.

gez

**oldcorollas** · 30-07-2006, 03:01 AM

if you can get the door trim off.... usually by unscrewing everything that can unscrew, winding down the window, and then using a metal ruler (with NON sharp edges) to lever the clips out.... then changing the lock takes seconds.... there is just a simple clip on the back....

from memory, the AE92 has issue near the miror for removing the trim??

**LeeRoy** · 30-07-2006, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by oldcorollas

from memory, the AE92 has issue near the miror for removing the trim??

I've had no problems at all...however, i can imagine that some people will be given some trouble by the plastic inner mirror cover.

- LeeRoy

**gerald1** · 30-07-2006, 12:05 PM

yeah, there is this big "chip board" sort of MDF wood stuff with carpet attached to it. It has a few clips which i got undone, but the last few which on the mirror side done seem to want to come undone

i checked my manual and yeah, its kind of useless.

Gerald

**Dimmy** · 31-07-2006, 05:14 PM

on the ae82, there are 3 screws under the armrest, 1 at the door handle, clip for the window winder which can be unclipped with a flathead screwdriver and then several pressure clips that clip the trim into the door frame which just pop out.

From there it's easy just unscrew the old lock and put in a new one or clean it out and put it back in

**Hash_ra23** · 31-07-2006, 07:15 PM

if its just a clip thats stuck u shud be able to lever it out. just be careful using leverage. cos if u use something like a screwdriver you might crack the chipboard stuff under pressure. something like a putty knife shud do the trick. you could also try lifting it upwards towards the roof from the side closest to the rear. that might losen up the clip near the mirror. alot of my clips have broken off while ive taken em out. i think its pretty hard not to lose a few.

good luck